Chapter 158

Our business in the capital is done. Our business, and the Empire’s business. Now, it’s time to head toward our new destination, the Eastern Plains.

However, before we leave, there are things we must do. The ambassador from Elvenheim, Lady Rowena.

Meeting her and delivering the apple was one of the reasons I came here. I couldn’t just forget and move on.

*Yawn.*

Roka, who yawned, was the only one with nothing to do here. Perhaps because of that, she seemed to be getting bored of the Imperial Palace. Her interest in sightseeing had waned, and she had a look on her face that said she wanted to go somewhere, anywhere, as soon as possible.

As for Lady Kisea, she was busy boasting about her achievements to the Empire, trying to squeeze something out of them. When the Princess went to meet His Majesty, she immediately latched on and started coaxing her to go together. Whether she’ll get what she wants is another matter.

“So, when are we going to the Eastern Plains?”

Roka crossed her arms, looking bored. Her tail was thumping the floor.

Lady Kisea put a finger to her lips, silencing Roka. That woman, already blinded by the thought of rewards, was now unstoppable.

“Wait. You know who I’m talking to right now! The next Emperor! The Empire’s designated heir! The descendant of the Golden Dragon with the blood of gold! None other than Her Highness Ardein von Illumina! We must never anger her.”

[Even though I treated her like a lizard, she sure talks well.]

Perhaps embarrassed, Her Highness covered her face with her hand. Roka, who had known the Princess for a long time, snorted.

The child had never once thought of the Princess as someone so great.

“Um… I can’t unilaterally decide on the reward matter.”

She was so embarrassed that she couldn’t even make eye contact with Lady Kisea. Maybe it wasn’t just embarrassment but also a sense of burden.

“So, let’s all go together to meet His Majesty with Her Majesty. Ranga. I’ll speak to His Majesty about the merits you’ve accumulated… You should also tell your story again in front of His Majesty.”

Still, as a Master, the Princess’s attitude was respectful. Lady Kisea smiled brightly upon hearing that.

It was a pure, untainted smile. Roka let out a deep sigh.

“I thought she was a decent person.”

Now, she looked at Lady Kisea with the gaze of someone looking at the village idiot. Anyway, with that settled, we retraced our steps and headed to the Rose Palace.

Her Majesty the Empress, who was sipping tea, looked somewhat surprised when she saw us return.

“You left with three, but you return with five.”

[Six.]

Azahadaka corrected.

Her Majesty’s expression turned strange upon seeing the talking Dragon’s Sword. Perhaps thinking it was a hallucination, she ignored the voice and spoke.

“That bundle tied up like luggage is Edmund’s subordinate, isn’t it? He always gave me unpleasant looks. Anyway, you unfilial child. You haven’t even been sick, so what have you been doing in all this chaos?”

Her Majesty put down her teacup and stood up. She walked briskly toward us, came to the Princess’s side, and opened her palm. Then, she smacked her back.

The Princess could have dodged if she wanted to. But she couldn’t bring herself to do so and took the hit. Her face, showing clear distress, turned as red as a beet.

“Mo-Mother!”

“Stay still, you. What have you been doing in all this chaos that you only show your face now? What good is being a Master? Both your mother and father, when we needed you, we couldn’t even find a sock.”

*Smack smack*, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed. In fact, Her Majesty’s hand turned redder. The Princess, being a Master, probably didn’t feel any pain.

But regardless of physical pain, the Princess’s complexion darkened. She seemed to have taken quite a blow. Yet, she couldn’t utter a word in her defense.

“Um, Your Majesty. Please calm down first.”

Instead of the speechless Princess, Lady Kisea, now a faithful spokesperson, intervened. Her attitude toward Her Majesty had become much more respectful.

“Her Highness the Princess nearly died and was brought back to life. She’s still suffering from the aftereffects, and her mind is a bit… out of sorts.”

“What, what? Ardein. Is that true? Who brought you to that state?”

“There was someone. That… Dragon Chimera, I guess you could say.”

This person is surprisingly eloquent. Is it the result of a desire to impress?

I didn’t need to add any explanations. Lady Kisea had vividly described the situation.

[She would have been better suited as an extreme actor. She could have been a great storyteller, traveling around reading novels. Maybe she chose the wrong profession.]

She spoke so well that Her Majesty seemed half-entranced. She listened intently to Lady Kisea’s ramblings without even time to swallow.

“The Hilrae Church… has forsaken the heavenly order. I knew they were corrupt, but I never thought they would fall this far.”

“The Chimera spread its wings wide and lunged at the fallen Princess… Luckily, I smelled blood and found Her Highness collapsed.”

Of course, objectively speaking, Lady Kisea’s words were a bit far from the truth.

“My hands trembled as I held the sword, but I couldn’t back down after receiving a deposit from Her Majesty! I stood my ground, fighting with all my might using my martial arts!”

“Completely…”

Actually, it wasn’t just a little. Roka tried to say something but swallowed it back. Still, it seemed she decided to cover for her fellow kin. The Princess’s gaze also turned strange.

Since it happened while she was unconscious, verifying the truth was impossible, but she seemed to instinctively sense something was off. The Lady Kisea pounding her chest and boasting was quite different from the person we knew.

And so, Lady Kisea’s story continued, about how she, with her outstanding skills, impeccable judgment, and unwavering loyalty, protected the unconscious Princess and ultimately drove out the Evil God by exploiting its weakness. In the story, Lady Kisea was the great leader who guided us all.

“So, Ranga, was it you who saved my daughter?”

“I did chase out the Evil God and purify the capital with a little, very little help from that priest, but mostly, yes!”

Now I understand how she made a living as a mercenary. All my previous doubts were cleared. Because Her Majesty, with moved eyes, opened her purse.

“You really don’t have to give me this… I just did what I was paid to do…”

Though she said that, her expression was honest. Her eyes didn’t leave the bundle of bills Her Majesty handed over.

“Take it. Is this too much for the person who saved my daughter?”

Under Her Majesty’s insistence, further refusal was unnecessary. She quickly snatched it up, as if someone might take it away, stuffed it deep into her pocket, and expressed her gratitude. Her eyes sparkled as if the money had revitalized her.

“So, you came to report that you rescued my daughter. Ardein. If there was such a situation, you should have told me earlier. Come here. I almost lost you and that person today.”

Her Majesty finally calmed down and hugged the Princess tightly. Then, she whispered.

“Now, you’re the only child I have left. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to live? Still, I’m glad you’re safe amidst all this chaos.”

“Mother…”

“But Eriniell. She won’t have such luck.”

Her Majesty sighed, and the Princess was startled.

Stumbling, she continued. With a look that wondered why that name came up now.

“Eriniell… The Third Empress was definitely…”

“Ardein. I know that woman well. Having followed the same man for so long, you can see a person’s true nature to some extent.”

She crossed her arms and muttered.

“Eriniell isn’t the type to lead such a thing. But in the end, she couldn’t overcome her maternal instincts. Even knowing it would end in disaster, she stood by her son until the very end.”

But I think it was understandable.

He favored me too much.

Her Majesty spoke like that, and we couldn’t say anything. None of us had anything to say about the Emperor’s women.

“If a man takes multiple women, it’s ideal to treat them all equally. But ideals don’t exist in reality. Still, if His Majesty had at least pretended to love her, it would have been better. Since she was taken purely for political reasons, she gave love but received none. That’s truly a lonely thing.”

*Sigh.* Her Majesty sighed and, for some reason, looked straight at me.

“I knew. But knowing? I couldn’t bring myself to ask His Majesty to love another woman besides me.”

“Mother, such talk should at least be among family…”

“I’m saying it for you to hear. Listen. Ardein. You’re driving nails into your mother’s heart without even realizing it.”

Suddenly, Her Majesty whispered something into the Princess’s ear. The Princess shivered upon hearing it.

She glanced, pretending not to look at me, then at Roka, and back at Her Majesty.

“Um.”

Lady Kisea raised her hand and asked.

“Shouldn’t we go see His Majesty now?”

That person, now blinded by the thought of rewards waiting in the audience chamber, couldn’t wait any longer and grew impatient.

“Having three Masters escort me is truly luxurious.”

Her Majesty finally smiled and spoke.

“Let’s go. You’ve been gone so long, His Majesty must be worried. Ranga. If you tell your achievements in front of His Majesty as you did now, I’m sure he will commend you greatly.”